bring me the axe

 
bought a new axe last Friday night
good timber handle and mid-weight head  
took it to the shed and ran the bastard-file over it  
until it had an edge I liked  
 
went out to the woodpile Saturday afternoon  
put my shoulders to the work  
been 20 years since I swung an axe in anger  
came back to me easy
my hands far apart on the handle  
start the fast swing to speed the head  
then open the swing out as it comes over my shoulder
right hand slipping back down the handle to touch the other  
slam the head through the timber with a crack  
fuck you
reach for another piece of wood  
do it again  
get to thinking as my body warmed to it  
been a total cunt lately  
added pain to the world  
yeah I’ve added pain to the world  
drive the axe again  
swing it angry for truth I can't eat  
but never said I wouldn’t do that  
never said I was something I’m not  
never said I’d love her forever  
swing the axe again  
sun above the trees  
shirt off now swing the axe again
alive to the work  
I’m a man  
warm as blood started in blood ending in blood
never said I was anything else  
swing the axe again  
remember when she held me like I was a good one  
remember that most of all  
swing the axe again
and swing the axe again  
and then swing the fucking axe again
 
end of the afternoon sun gone low and dying  
the cats playing over the cut pile of wood  
step back from the block  
lean on the axe  
hands torn and splintered  
too long on office-work for them to take this kind of day  
look down at them  
yeah well fuck them too and their weaknesses
look at the pile  
I’m a man made for sweat and anger  
made to create in destruction
drive the axe into the block one last stroke
leave it there for next time
 
I own the woodpile
 
walk for the house  
legs and back ready for a sit-down and a bourbon to ease their heats  
no I never said I was anything but this  
and I was true to my word  
and now I’m tired of feeling bad for it
empty for it
sorry for it  
and I'm tired of being so far from the sea where my real love is
yeah tired of fucking up on land  
but I’m a man and I swing the axe